Consumer Reports loves Fusion Hybrid

Very true. For a smaller sedan, the looks are OK, but it really isn't anything particularly great. I'm not a big fan of basic sedans, anyway, but there are plenty of other European ones whose looks are more appealing. The great thing about the FFH is that it isn't too big nor too small (except for the trunk), and it provides the basic giddy-up that most Americans want in a car most Americans can accept. The down side of all is the price for performance.

If only it came in a hatchback with better mileage . . .

Was that for a 2010 or the Gen2?

 

It just makes me wish they would actually try to get good gas mileage in it as well as drive it like the avid non-hypermiler would. Because what would it hurt to show what the vehicle is capable of when one tries as well as when one drives like they're in an SUV.

I guess we'll have to wait for a Fusion hybrid forum to see what people can actually get in it.

 

Wait until someone tries to go golfing and he picks up his buddies.
Or coming back from IKEA or the hardware store with some lumber.
Or two kids below the age of Six.

I'd rather the Escape Hybrid to the fusion so far, which I find more versatile for the money.

Thanks for the link.

 

I've never understood what the EPA means by city driving. I get lower mileage (usually) in the city than on the highway because in the city I'm always stopping at lights then having to start up again.

 

The new Fusion Hybrid is a fantastic piece!!!

 

Anyone who only got 25 MPG 'city' out of a FFH was either driving around with the parking brake on or (more likely) had their notes mixed up with another car - you can guess what my opinion of CR is

 

I am disappointed in the narrow view that Consumer Reports took in addressing US domestic vehicles without including the big picture at some point in the magazine. I guess that readers who only want to "buy American" will be well served. Those who want the best vehicle will just be misled
July Prius sales figures sure do suggest that a lot of folks know the big picture

 

I find it hard to believe that CR has a pro American car bias. From everything I have read from them they are just the opposite! If CR likes an American made car it must be special.

 

CR needs to publicly post when and where their bumbling-idiot
cadre of test drivers heads out on the roads, so the rest of us
can stay off them until they're done.
.
_H*

 

I saw the Consumer Reports issue at Target over the weekend (or you could look in a library), and picked it up to glance at the article. I was looking for the 2010 Prius review, but Consumer Reports usually takes several months.

The magazine has a chart of midsize sedans, with the Fusion Hybrid in comparison to others that were reviewed earlier. It's the best rated American midsize sedan, and it was tied with the Camry hybrid. There were at least three non-hybrid imports ranked above it.

From what I know, Consumer Reports is biased AGAINST American cars. A fairly large part of the rating is reliability, which is based on subscriber surveys going back a few years. Ford's reliability has improved substantially this decade, but it will take several more years for that to be fully reflected in the system.

From my test drives of the Fusion hybrid, I agree with the review; it's a very good midsize sedan. (You can see my comments in an earlier thread.) I found it slightly more comfortable than the Prius, and it has a smoother ride. It seats 4 adults easily, so two adults plus two young kids would be fine. At least 3 golf bags would fit in the trunk, and the 4th could sit in the middle back.

Not everyone wants a hatchback. If you're hauling lumber, well, a Fusion hybrid is a terrible choice. If you want a smooth classic-American style sedan, it's the best choice. The Prius wound up being a better car for me, so I purchased one, but there are many situations for which that wouldn't be true. As kens said, "Even for hard-core Prius devotees, it's great to have another appealing, fuel-efficient car out there."

As far as sales go, I had more trouble finding Fusion Hybrids than Priuses. Ford vastly underestimated demand. The dealers all wanted more. Right now, cars.com says there are 52 Priuses within 100 miles of me in Louisville, but only 10 Fusion hybrids.

 

I can understand the appeal of the Fusion .... it is a very nice car. I for one, am very grateful that Ford has a success .... a reward for not taking government money.
Actually, CR has written very favorable reviews of the Prius.

Remember, however, the Fusion Hybrid is a hybrid system applied to a gasoline design .... and there are consequences; such as lower mileage, and etc. The Camry, the Lexus and many others are the same. The Prius, on teh other hand, is a complete "ground-up" hybrid design, and the results illustrate the success of the design.

Today I saw an analysis of the years it will take to "break even," (savings/pay-back). The Prius was 4 years. As I recall the Insight was (I believe) 7 years, and the Fusion was 9, as I recall. Others were listed that ranged for well over 10 years.

Do not begrudge the Fusion ... actually, as I understand it, Toyota ownes many of the patents that Ford pays royalties on.

 

Anyone who has read my many posts on the FFH knows I am thrilled Ford has a [potential] winner. I hope it all works out. It isn't the car for me. The trunk is not the only reason, but I defy someone to place three full-size golf bags in that car. I just went golfing and placed three bags in my Prius -- and I already had two large folding arm chairs in the cargo area plus a number of smaller items. AND, I could close the tonneau cover.

On the above quote: I don't mean to be mean, but I don't know that I can accept such a statement without some kind of proof. My question to Felt is this: Where did you get that information? If it is easily and reasonable supported, please just add the reference. If it is from a distant memory, please just add that qualifier.

I do know there was litigation between Toyota and Ford MANY years ago. My rather dusty recollection is that the conflict was resolved so as to allow Ford to go ahead ahead and built the first Escape hybrid. I thought Toyota and Ford agreed to exchange patent rights, because each party had reasonable claims on either first or simultaneous, independent development of portions of their hybrid systems. I did not believe either party retained royalty rights of any kind. I also thought the two companies have continued to further develop their hybrids completely on their own.

I intend nothing personal here. Instead, I want to prevent name calling. If my memory is more than a little off, I will not be surprised. I will gratefully apologize if there is proof behind the statement, and I will thank anyone for a gentle reproof of my statements.

What I really do not want is to have PriusChat (and PCers by implication) to be tagged as nay-sayers or liers because we have made or allowed statements that are half-truths or worse.

 

Consumer Reports may get a little 'push back' as their Family Sedan rating chart seems to be missing the Toyota Prius:

Source: Consumer Reports Online (requires registration)

The Canadian recommendations are even thinner so this may yet be a 'work in progress.' Regardless, I've sent them a note:

In all fairness, they have this to say about not having listed a vehicle:

<AHEM!>Their 'Market Analysts' seem to have missed the elephant in the room or they have unusually lame 'anonymous shoppers.' But to not even include a footnote ...

Bob Wilson

 

The reason why the Fusion Hybrid is so darn hard to find is because of limitations in the drivetrain availability..

They can only get Aisin Seiki and Sanyo to provide 25,000 sets of the HD-20 Power Split Device transaxles and NiMH batteries.

So Ford is only building a worldwide total of 25,000 Fusion Hybrids for the entire 2010 model year.

 

Here are some reviews I found: ...doesn't seem like any were posted but if they were it's not an intentional repost

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Short Take Road Test - Auto Reviews - Car and Driver

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid Review and Specs

2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid - Ford Hybrid Sedan Review - Automobile Magazine

www.roadandttrack.com/hondaatkinson

Review: 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

Can it get big mile numbers on one tank? We'll see....

Edit: apparently it got 1445.7 miles on one tank in this challenge:
http://www.rumblestrip.net/main/2009/4/30/ford-fusion-hybrid-review.html

 

Rumblestrip ???
"Back to an earlier point. Most people will look at the Fusion’s MPG numbers and immediately call it a failure and point directly the the Prius. What they will fail to take into account is that the Prius is not a mid size car, it’s a compact. It looks and feels larger because it’s a five door hatchback, if the Prius had a trunk, rather than a hatch, it WOULD qualify as a compact car. The interior is also junk. The fit and finish may be fine, but the quality of materials is of much lower in spec then the Ford. It also rides and handles poorly and gives you the feeling of a riding in a can, not a car. The Fusion feels like a proper mid size car that fully specked out as ours was borders on being classified as a near luxury car, not something that feels like it’s a $99 washing machine. We aren’t the only ones who have driven both cars to come to this opinion by the way. If you want a direct comparison between Ford and Toyota hybrids then you need to compare the Fusion to the Camry, that is the fair and equal measure."
Oh well, I'll have to see if the Clunker Bill will include my piece of junk...

 

Regretably, I will not be able to provide the answer you seek. I can tell you that before I purchased my G3, I was reading everything I could find, and it was in one of those searches that I came across the comment.

The context for the statement was a criticism of Toyota. That is the way I read it. It asserted that Toyota had their attorneys rush in and acquire patents on virtually every aspect of the hybrid system and technology. (That was the point of the comment - attorneys). If I should find it again I will pass it on.

 

Wow a washing machine - agree the Camry is a better comparison but similarly equipped the Fusion hybrid & Prius are close (price wise)